978 replies to this topic

[G-Man]

^ I agree with Dylan. The street wall this brings together is great.

[jklymak]

You could make the street wall without making the thing a fat scraper.

[D.L.]

It's not a fatscraper. It's seven stories. It's a normal building.

[Kapten Kapsell]

I think that this project will be a net positive for the Harris Green area and for downtown in general.

Does anyone know what timeframe is being targetting by the developers for the start of construction (assuming the application for a DP is approved)?

[Baro]

It' short and under density but I'd rather this with its streetwall than another Regent's tower with its suburban setbacks.

[Mike K.]

^yup.

[jklymak]

^^ Sure, I agree with that. However, I also agree with Aastra that this is to bulky, and that two thin towers with a 2-floor podium could have achieved as good a street presence.

[Baro]

Victoria shuns the po-to

[Holden West]

I'm still not sure about the ground floor commercial element and if it would be economically viable.

[Rob Randall]

Jukebox developers don't want walkway

By Robert Randall • Published on Tuesday, September 7, 2010 • Categorized as Construction & Land Development, Heritage, Local News, Real-estate

A mid-block walkway is supposed to be a convenient shortcut but two prominent local builders say the City’s request to put one in their latest project mean they will be building a path to nowhere.

In the case of the Jukebox, a walkway would lead to the adjacent building owned by Joseph Egoyan at 1028 Fort Street. Egoyan’s mock-Tudor two-storey won a Hallmark Society award in 1992 for heritage restoration. McColl claims Egoyan is not interested in having his property used as a cut-through and in fact will accept no communications from the developers on the subject. The other side of the walkway would face the blank concrete wall and parking ramp of the Adria condo at 1026 Fort Street. City Hall planners have said in the past that walkways should be built even if it means waiting years for neighbouring properties to develop in order to complete the passageway.

more...

[2F2R]

Hum … what best … I think it should just be left as an empty lot … this way, it does not block anybodies view, we don’t have to argue about design, setbacks, walkthroughs, shave five floors, not in my backyard, don’t like the color, the windows, the occupants … etc, etc, etc, etc … maybe just plant lawn and let the campers set up shop here … maybe a trailer on the edge of the property for a needle exchange … just thinking out loud … anyway, anything other than a tall beautiful modern building … or even a short fat fatscraper as you call them … …

[aastra]

Egoyan’s mock-Tudor two-storey won a Hallmark Society award in 1992 for heritage restoration.

City Hall planners have said in the past that walkways should be built even if it means waiting years for neighbouring properties to develop in order to complete the passageway.

So is the city trying to say they want the mock-Tudor building to be redeveloped?

I'm still as mystified as ever by this mid-block walkway fetish. Are claustrophobia-inspiring corridors lined by tall blank walls really such a boon to... anything?

[Mike K.]

Rob, to confirm, the project is 8-storeys tall, or 7?

[G-Man]

I would be okay if they went with townhouses along the street instead of commercial but if they think they can make a go of it then good luck to them.

[gumgum]

Does anybody hate that round part as much as I do? It cheapens the look, to me.

[jklymak]

I would be okay if they went with townhouses along the street instead of commercial but if they think they can make a go of it then good luck to them.

Yeah I think townhouses would be a better bet economically, maybe work/live zoned. I say to keep Fort and Yates the commercial streets.

[Mike K.]

There is nothing wrong with giving commercial space a chance on eastern View.

[Kapten Kapsell]

It could be argued that there is already some notable retail in the 800-1000 blocks of View Street (a pharmacy, Harris Green Liquor Merchants, and Frontrunners). A new kitchen cabinet/cabinet showroom opened in the Chelsea Apartments' View Street retail space recently and the corner of View/Vancouver could see new retail developed when the Bottle Depot vacates its space later this year.

Similarly, the 800-1000 blocks of Johnson Street don't have the retail presence of Fort & Yates, but a number of small retailers & cafes (such as the coffee shop @ 932 Fort) occupy the zone and the Atrium will have some Johnson-facing retail space too.

[Marilyn]

So is the city trying to say they want the mock-Tudor building to be redeveloped?

I'm still as mystified as ever by this mid-block walkway fetish. Are claustrophobia-inspiring corridors lined by tall blank walls really such a boon to... anything?

It will have to be sealed off with high wrought iron gates at each end otherwise, it will be a boon to the shopping basket brigade, and the junkies.

[D.L.]

Why weren't accomodations for the mid-block walkway included in the Adria development on Fort St., which was built just a couple of years ago?

Here is an aerial view of the area involved - http://www.bing.com/...e1=Victoria, BC - Swivel the view 180 degrees to see the other side.

Here's a street view of where the walkway could go - http://maps.google.c...2,24.58,,1,3.42

And from the other side - http://maps.google.c...,191.03,,1,3.23


The City sure seems to be messing up good opportunities for mid-block walkways. The building of both the Wave on Yates St. and the adjacent 860 View St. was a perfect opportunity for a walkway, but it didn't happen, so the City has been trying to get the developer of the property behind the Capital 6 to cram one in on that site, where it wouldn't be nearly as usefull.

Both of these situations seem like poor city planning. Or is it a lack of political power?